The Department of Physics offers a program of graduate study leading
to the Master of Science degree. The program serves as preparation for
a) further advanced study in physics or related fields, b) a career in
government or industrial research, or c) teaching at the secondary or
postsecondary level.

Admission Requirements

Students entering the program should have received their bachelor's
degree with a major in physics. At the discretion of the Departmental
Graduate Committee, other students may be admitted to the program; however,
they may have to remedy deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation.
The Graduate Record Examination is not required in physics.

Applications for admission are accepted at any time, but decisions concerning
graduate assistantships are generally made by March 1 for the following
academic year.

Only the following 400-level physics courses can be counted toward the
30 credit hour requirement:

PHYS 410G Application of Computer Programming in the Physical Sciences
and Engineering

PHYS 427G Advanced Electronics

PHYS 428G Applied Optics

PHYS 431G Atomic Physics and Quantum Mechanics II

PHYS 440G Applied Nuclear Physics

PHYS 468G Mathematical Methods of Physics II

Course Descriptions

410G Application of Computer Programming in the Physical Sciences
and Engineering. (3) Designed to introduce the student to basic
computer techniques frequently used in the physical sciences and engineering.
Applications of FORTRAN to the programming of numerical calculations,
data fitting, simulation of physical problems, and individualized work
on problems chosen from the student's field of interest. Prerequisite:
Basic knowledge of FORTRAN, one year of general physics, one year of calculus,
or permission of the instructor.

470G Modern Experimental Physics. (2) Laboratory experiments
including both those fundamental to the development of modern physics
and those which illustrate modern experimental systems techniques. Prerequisite:
PHYS 201.

476G Special Topics in Physics. (1–4, repeatable) Lecture
course in topics of current interest are given under this number. Topics
based on the student's previous training and interests. Subjects announced
in the class schedule. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

477G Special Problems in Experimental and Theoretical Physics.
(1–4, repeatable) Individual investigations or studies
of any phase of physics not provided for in the regular subjects. Opportunity
for undergraduates to engage in experimental or theoretical research under
the supervision of staff member. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

560 Topics in Solid State Physics. (3) A study of the
electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of crystalline solids,
including lattice bonding, phonon dynamics, band theory, electrons in
metals, semiconductors, and superconductivity.

576 Special Topics in Physics. (1–4, repeatable)
Lecture courses in topics of current interest.

577 Special Problems in Physics. (1–8, repeatable)
Individual problems in the field of physics are selected according to
the interest and needs of the student. (No more than seven hours of PHYS
577 may be applied toward the 30 hour degree requirement.) Graded S/U.